Nation

Bridge collapses, drops city bus into Pittsburgh ravine

The collapse came hours before President Biden was to visit the city to promote his $1 trillion infrastructure law, which has earmarked about $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania bridge maintenance. Continue reading →

Nation

A federal watchdog for coronavirus aid warns Congress it is nearly out of money

A federal watchdog overseeing billions of dollars in coronavirus aid told lawmakers late Thursday that it is now facing a “terminal budget crisis,” as its fast-dwindling funds in the face of congressional inaction threaten to shutter the office as soon as this summer. Continue reading →

Political Notebook

Lawmakers urge carbon reduction mandate for Department of Defense

The letter focuses on an order that President Biden signed last month directing the government to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from federal buildings and vehicles. Continue reading →

World

Ukraine’s president urges calm amid talk of war, US warning to Russia

With more than one hundred thousand Russian troops at his country's border, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine says talk of war could create panic and instability among the public. Continue reading →

World

UN: ‘Extreme lack of food’ for many in Ethiopia’s Tigray region

More than a third of the people in Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region “are suffering an extreme lack of food,” the United Nations World Food Program said in a new assessment of a region under a months-long government blockade. Continue reading →

World

Afghans face dire famine, US pressed to loosen aid limits

International pressure is increasing on the Biden administration to loosen restrictions on aid and financial flows to Afghanistan amid mounting concerns that current efforts to ward off humanitarian catastrophe are not enough. Continue reading →

EDITORIAL

Lower taxes in Massachusetts? Yes, please.

Families, low-income workers, and seniors deserve a break, and the estate tax merits an overhaul. Continue reading →

OPINION

Fowl play in Beverly over a 7-year-old’s cherished chickens

Does the city of Beverly really want to deny a 7-year-old girl a permit to have emotional support, in whatever two-legged form that may come? Continue reading →

LETTERS

High behind the wheel, but how do we know?

Standard field sobriety tests have thus far been validated only for identifying subjects impaired by alcohol, not for marijuana or other substances. Continue reading →

Massachusetts

Local Ukrainians on edge, fearing an attack by Russia

The Ukrainian community in Massachusetts is plagued by uncertainty as Russian forces mass at the border and the United States and other nations seek a diplomatic solution to the stand-off. Continue reading →

Social Justice

Continued concerns about Mass. and Cass aired at community meeting

The health care workers who plan to run a clinic and acute overdose care center at the Roundhouse hotel said Thursday that they may open in a matter of weeks, triggering strong opposition from neighborhood leaders who say the city is still struggling to manage vagrancy and open-air drug dealing in the Mass. and Cass area. Continue reading →

Social Justice

As storm nears, city works to find warm shelter for homeless people

City crews and social workers who provide aid to area homeless people will head out in vans for as long as their safety allows Friday and during Saturday’s expected blizzard conditions to urge those who have been living on the streets to seek shelter, officials said. Continue reading →

Hawks 108, Celtics 92

‘We gotta definitely do something different’ — Celtics’ momentum disappears against Hawks

The Celtics missed 12 of their first 16 shots in the fourth quarter as the Hawks went on a 17-2 run to push Boston back to .500 (25-25). Continue reading →

Celtics Notebook

Jayson Tatum speaks to Celtics teammates about maintaining focus in the critical stretch of games coming up

The challenge begins Friday with the Hawks, who have won five consecutive games. Continue reading →

PATRIOTS

Report: Josh McDaniels speaking to Las Vegas about head coach job

The Patriots offensive coordinator will be the fourth person interviewed for the job, joining a list that includes inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, and has strong connections with both favorites for the general manager job in Las Vegas. Continue reading →

Business

There’s a new frontier in detecting cancer: blood tests

Often called liquid biopsies, the gene-based tests from several US startups hone in on worrisome biomarkers that can signal cancer. Continue reading →

TECH LAB

‘A big deal, and it’s bad’: IRS facial scanning plan raises privacy fears

The Internal Revenue Service will require taxpayers to provide images of their faces to access their data online. Privacy advocates worry that the new system will normalize the use of biometrics. Continue reading →

Retail

DoorDash dishes out grants to Boston-area restaurants

Amid criticism of the impact of third-party delivery services on restaurants struggling during the pandemic, an industry giant has doled out $340,000 to 17 local restaurants. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Rabbi Israel Dresner, civil rights champion and King ally, dies at 92

Israel S. Dresner, a New Jersey rabbi who ventured into the Deep South in the 1960s to champion civil rights, befriended the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and was jailed multiple times for demonstrating against racial segregation, died Jan. 13 in Wayne, New Jersey. He was 92. Continue reading →

Obituaries

Rabbi Israel Dresner, civil rights champion and King ally, dies at 92

Israel S. Dresner, a New Jersey rabbi who ventured into the Deep South in the 1960s to champion civil rights, befriended the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and was jailed multiple times for demonstrating against racial segregation, died Jan. 13 in Wayne, New Jersey. He was 92. Continue reading →

Continue reading →

MUSIC REVIEW

At BSO, Thomas Adès transforms old into new

Thursday night in Symphony Hall, the composer led works by Ravel and Berg as well as his own Piano Concerto, with soloist Kirill Gerstein. Continue reading →

MUSIC REVIEW

At TD Garden, Kacey Musgraves sings from the heart

With a setlist that mixed melancholy with uplift, Musgraves leaned heavily into songs from her recent divorce album, “star-crossed,” and its swoonier predecessor, “Golden Hour.” Continue reading →

Arts

Chicago arts organization awards $50,000 each to seven BIPOC New England artists

Five of the United States Artists fellows are based in Massachusetts. Continue reading →